D&D (2024) No Dwarf, Halfling, and Orc suborgins, lineages, and legacies

[Paul Farquhar]

halflings and gnomes are still not being played in D&D,

Which is simply not true. Halflings were the most popular choice in our group, up until they were recently overtaken by warforged. Gnomes, Halflings and warforged are far more popular than humans, dwarves and elves. Now, my group is clearly not representative, but as the statistics show, some people like and choose to play gnomes and halflings.

Now, if Dragonborn were sucking the bottom, then I would make the same suggestion that dragonborn shoudl be more promently featured. But, since they don't need help, why bother.

It wouldn't help, because people do not choose their species based on what they encounter in adventures. And more importantly they don't need help. It doesn't matter if X is less popular than Y, or if Z never appears in some games (I've never seen a dragonborn PC in any of my games). They are there for the people who want to use them, and can be ignored by those who don't, without hurting anyone.

 

[CreamCloud0]

I mean that is literally the last remnant of their size mattering at all.

Sure but in the design space of 5e where they’re very reluctant to give out any sort of inherent penalties it kind of sticks out as especially noticeable (I also forgot to mention earlier the below average 25ft speed that the smaller species all got saddled with back then), I’m sure if they had tried they could’ve designed being small to be both flavourful and have it’s own equally useful perks, or at least not cut off an entire section of builds to them, hell, just making GWM key off of 2-handed/versatile weapons instead of heavy would’ve solved this issue.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Halflings were above the half-orcs in the last survey.

Orcs and half orcs should probably be lumped together these days. I had three full blooded orc PCs in my last campaign.

 

[Hussar]

No amount of rules tinkering or greater representation can make gnomes and halflings not short. And as long as gnomes and halflings are short, they're going to lag behind in their pick rate.

As a general rule, people want their in-game avatars to be big and strong or kinda sexy. People will choose some of the anthro races for "fun" characters, or pick a race with some novel mechanical benefit (like warforged, or tortles, or fairies). The races that don't fit those characteristics will fall by the wayside.

I like halflings, personally, but the only times I've ever really chosen them for a PC was in 3.5 when they were one of the best mechanical options for casters (strongheart halflings got a feat at 1st level AND had the defensive bonuses of small size). And if you make an aesthetically unpleasing race popular by making their features overpowered, that just causes grumbling.

I'm not sure that's true though. I've certainly seen more than a few kobold PC's over the years. And, some time ago, a Holyphant as well. Small doesn't seem to be the issue to me.

Although, if that's what it is, that would explain why nothing seems to make any difference.

 

[TwoSix]

I'm not sure that's true though. I've certainly seen more than a few kobold PC's over the years. And, some time ago, a Holyphant as well. Small doesn't seem to be the issue to me.

Although, if that's what it is, that would explain why nothing seems to make any difference.

Kobolds and hollyphants are Small and distinct. Gnomes and halflings are Small but much pretty much normal humanoids.

 

[Hussar]

Which is simply not true. Halflings were the most popular choice in our group, up until they were recently overtaken by warforged. Gnomes, Halflings and warforged are far more popular than humans, dwarves and elves. Now, my group is clearly not representative, but as the statistics show, some people like and choose to play gnomes and halflings.

It wouldn't help, because people do not choose their species based on what they encounter in adventures. And more importantly they don't need help. It doesn't matter if X is less popular than Y, or if Z never appears in some games (I've never seen a dragonborn PC in any of my games). They are there for the people who want to use them, and can be ignored by those who don't, without hurting anyone.

Well, the gnomes are barely getting played. Let's be honest here. While I've been taken to task repeatedly for overstating the case on halflings, no one is claiming that gnomes aren't scraping the bottom of the barrel. If gnomes didn't appear in the PHB, they'd probably be entirely forgotten except for a few hold outs.

But, perhaps you're right. I was thinking that the other races get a bit of a leg up because they feature so prominently in the lore of the game. Dwarven citadels, elven lands and whatnot. They have a huge impact on the settings of D&D - particularly Forgotten Realms and Greyhawk, but, also many other settings as well. It's not a mystery why there were no gnomes at the outset for Dark Sun, for example. And no one cared, or, at least, didn't care very much.

In my opinion, if gnomes and halflings started playing a more visible role in the game, maybe people would want to play them more. Mr. "reluctant hero" halfling doesn't exactly get a lot of motors starting. And gnomes just aren't getting much traction.

 

[Remathilis]

But, it's not needed for Dragonborn because Dragonborn are one of the most popularly played races.

So, it's not mechanics that drive this - after all DB are hardly a strong race, nor are they paired with one of the most popular classes, like halflings are.

If halflings and gnomes are actually playing a really prominent role in adventures, and I'll take your word that they are, then, what more can be done to actually entice players to play them? After all, gnomes are barely being played at all. Halflings aren't exactly taking the world by storm.

To be honest, ALL the PHB species need more coverage. Adventure writers (both WotC and 3pp) keep getting stuck in the "this place was built by humans/elves/dwarves" as if no other groups build anything. You don't see halfling temples, gnomish mines, dragonborn mausoleums or tabaxi fortresses. The best you get is goblin warrens or other occupied natural cave systems.

I assume partly this is because the trinity was the easiest to excuse; they are all traditionally Empire builders in decline making building abandoned things easier to justify. And small folk would build buildings for their stature, so that makes it harder to design and run for larger party members. Finally, I assume most designers still hold to the notion that players view any race that wasn't part of the Fellowship of the Ring as rare and/or monstrous and that DMs won't use it if they have those species there. I can name a few D&Dish settings that lack halflings, gnome and/or orcs, I can't name a single one without elves and dwarves.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Sure but in the design space of 5e where they’re very reluctant to give out any sort of inherent penalties it kind of sticks out as especially noticeable (I also forgot to mention earlier the below average 25ft speed that the smaller species all got saddled with back then), I’m sure if they had tried they could’ve designed being small to be both flavourful and have it’s own equally useful perks, or at least not cut off an entire section of builds to them, hell, just making GWM key off of 2-handed/versatile weapons instead of heavy would’ve solved this issue.

That's part of my rewrite of that feat.

 

[Mind of tempest]

To be honest, ALL the PHB species need more coverage. Adventure writers (both WotC and 3pp) keep getting stuck in the "this place was built by humans/elves/dwarves" as if no other groups build anything. You don't see halfling temples, gnomish mines, dragonborn mausoleums or tabaxi fortresses. The best you get is goblin warrens or other occupied natural cave systems.

I assume partly this is because the trinity was the easiest to excuse; they are all traditionally Empire builders in decline making building abandoned things easier to justify. And small folk would build buildings for their stature, so that makes it harder to design and run for larger party members. Finally, I assume most designers still hold to the notion that players view any race that wasn't part of the Fellowship of the Ring as rare and/or monstrous and that DMs won't use it if they have those species there. I can name a few D&Dish settings that lack halflings, gnome and/or orcs, I can't name a single one without elves and dwarves.

that and the new guys like Dragonborn have not had much lore given to them setting wise thus little to inspire past them being dragons.

 

[Corinnguard]

As a general rule, people want their in-game avatars to be big and strong or kinda sexy. People will choose some of the anthro races for "fun" characters, or pick a race with some novel mechanical benefit (like warforged, or tortles, or fairies). The races that don't fit those characteristics will fall by the wayside.

Where as a small race is pretty much the size of a human child.